Tsunami victims vs. Schapelle Corby.

I wasn't going to comment on the Schapelle Corby case because I realise that (a) I'm not a lawyer; (b) I'm not a lawyer familiar with the Indonesian judicature; and (c) I'm not an experienced judge with all the evidence before me.

However, what really disgusts me are reports that some people throughout Terra Australis want their money back - money that was donated to Indonesian tsunami victims in the wake of the Boxing Day Tsunami last year. And what's more, they're unwilling to donate to the Salvation Army's Red Shield Appeal unless they can be guaranteed that their donations won't be going to Indonesia. [Edit: link - Australians dig deep for Salvos appeal & Red Shield appeal on target for $6m, Sydney Morning Herald/AAP, May 29, 2005]

For one thing, thousands of wave-struck people in Banda Aceh have no bearing upon the judicial proceedings in Bali. So why hurt them for a verdict that was handed down by three judges halfway across the country? And another thing, who are we to think we can interfere with a sovereign nation's judicial system? We are not superior to Indonesia. The only thing we can do is to go through the due process as prescribed by the Indonesian Judicature.

But the main thing that shits me is this attitude that aspirational and middle class Australia has towards charitable aid. People who've had to rebuild their lives from scratch have graciously accepted the help that your donations have provided. But it's not something that one can use as a bargaining tool. It does not buy you leverage and you can't hold it over them as if they owe you something. One gives so that another may be helped out of dire circumstances, not so that one's own ends can be accomplished. And to ask for that money back is just disgusting.


Listening to:
Title: Feel Good Inc.
Artist: Gorillaz
Album/station: Channel [v]
Length: -.--